Napa Valley wineries move focus from earthquake to harvest

California's Napa Valley wineries, a number of whom suffered significant damage in the recent 6.1 earthquake, have already harvested most of their Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

According to Napa Valley Vintners the harvest "is in full swing" with most Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Malbec starting to hit the crush pads. Picking of the later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grapes - the region's most widely planted variety - is set to start soon.

Despite of one of the driest winters on record, NVV says the 2014 harvest is "expected to produce another high quality vintage" in the Napa Valley. It predicted that spring rains and consistent weather throughout the growing season will likely yield an average to above-average crop of evenly ripened fruit. Although this year's harvest has largely escaped damage from the drought conditions, experts have voiced concerns that unless there is copious rain this winter, future crops will suffer as much of the groundwater has been exhausted in the 2014 crop.

The trade association says that although a handful of the 120 wineries that were affected by the August 24 quake are still assessing damage and continuing their recovery efforts, 99% of Napa Valley's wineries have returned to their core business of producing and selling wine. Even those wineries in the town of Napa that suffered severe damage have reopened to the public or set up temporary harvest facilities to turn the rapidly ripening grapes into wine.

A number of wineries tweeted images and updates of their harvest activities: